Suicide Statistics in the United States

Published On September 26, 2024 | Last Updated: September 26, 2024

Suicide was ranked as the 11th most common cause of death in the United States (U.S.) in 2021, resulting in the loss of over 48,100 lives. Let’s look at some critical statistics surrounding suicide in the U.S., taking a closer look at key methods and how figures vary with age, ethnicity, gender, and location.

Key Takeaways:

In 2022, over 49,000 Americans died by suicide, 13.2 million were suffering from serious suicidal ideation, 3.8 million had planned to take their own lives, and 1.6 million made an attempt.
In 2021, suicide was the 11th most prevalent cause of demise in the U.S.
Firearms were the leading method of suicide, responsible for 54.64% of suicide deaths in 2022.
Out of all U.S. states, Montana had the highest suicide rate of 28.7 in 2022, with 329 deaths.
In 2022, the suicide rate for males was roughly 4 times higher than that for females.
Despite making up half of the population, males represented nearly 80% of all fatalities from suicide in 2022.
In 2022, White males constituted 68.46% of all suicide deaths.
In 2022, adults aged 85+ had the highest suicide rate at 23.02 deaths per 100,000 population.
In 2021, suicide ranked as the second leading cause of death among individuals aged 10–14 and 25–34.
Young adults aged 18–25 had the highest rate (13.6%) of severe suicidal ideation among U.S. adults in 2022.
In 2021, suicide deaths (48,183) were nearly double compared to homicides (26,031).
Individuals who abuse substances are 6 times more likely to die by suicide.
In 2021, there were roughly 148.2 emergency department visits per 100,000 people for nonfatal self-harm injuries.
In 2020, instances of suicide and nonlethal self-harm incurred over $500 billion in national expenses.

General Insights

Here are some general insights on suicide in America:

In 2022, approximately 49,000 individuals lost their lives to suicide. 13.2 million experienced serious suicidal ideation, 3.8 million devised a plan to take their own lives, and 1.6 million made a suicide attempt, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to the CDC, in 2021, suicide was the 11th most common cause of death in the United States, moving down from 10th place in 2019 and up from 12th place in 2020.

Suicide rates skyrocketed by 37% from 2000 to 2018, then dropped by 5% between 2018 and 2020.
Suicides constituted nearly twice as many deaths (48,183) compared to homicides (26,031) in 2021.
Among the most common methods of suicide in 2022, firearms were the most frequent, responsible for just over half (54.64%) of all suicide deaths.

Individuals who abuse substances are 6 times more likely to die by suicide compared to those without such disorders, as per a study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), 94% of adults think suicide can be prevented.
In 2021, the rate of emergency department visits for nonfatal self-inflicted cases was approximately 148.2 per 100,000 people.
According to Mental Health America (MHA), 40% of individuals who die by suicide have previously attempted it. 9 out of 10 people who survive an attempted suicide do not go on to complete it later.
The risk of suicide is 37% higher for individuals in the first year after intentional self-harm compared to the rest of the population.
The CDC reported that in 2022, out of all the 50 states, Montana had the highest suicide rate per 100,000 population at 28.7, closely followed by Alaska at 27.6.

The CDC disclosed that in 2020, the total expense to the nation from suicide and nonfatal self-harm exceeded $500 billion, encompassing medical expenses, loss of work earnings, value of statistical life, and quality of life costs.

Suicide Statistics According to Age, Gender, and Ethnicity

Below are some crucial statistics related to suicide according to age, gender, and ethnicity.

Age

According to the NIH, in 2021, suicide ranked as the second highest cause of death for ages 10–14 and 25–34, the third highest for ages 15-24, and the fifth highest cause for individuals aged 35–44.
In 2022, the frequency of serious suicidal thoughts among U.S. adults was highest for youth aged between 18 and 25 (13.6%), reports the NIH.

Compared to 2021, suicide rates rose for individuals aged 35 and older, while they fell for those aged 34 and younger.
In 2022, the suicide rate for those between the ages of 15 and 24 decreased from 15.15 per 100,000 to 13.62 per 100,000.
According to the Youth Risk Behaviors Survey 2021, 10% of high school students in grades 9-12 reported a minimum of one suicide attempt within the last year.

In 2022, the prevalence of serious suicidal thoughts among adults aged 18 and over was the highest for those who identify as multiracial (9.3%).
The CDC reported that from 2021 to 2022, suicide rates rose for all age groups 35 and older. The increases ranged from 3% for ages 35–44 and 65–74 to 9% for ages 55–64.
In 2022, the highest suicide rates were recorded among adults aged 85 and older (23.02 per 100,000 people), followed by those aged 75 to 84 (20.26 per 100,000 people).

Gender

According to the CDC, in 2022, the rate of suicide for males was about 4 times higher than that for females.
The male rate of suicide in 2022 was 23.1 per 100,000 people, while the female suicide rate was 5.9 per 100,000 people.
Although they constitute 50% of the population, males accounted for nearly 80% of all suicides in 2022.
According to AFSP, female students were 1.86 times more likely to attempt suicide compared to male students (13% vs 7%), based on the Youth Risk Behaviors Survey from 2021.
In 2022, White males made up 68.46% of all suicide deaths, according to the AFSP.
Men who abuse alcohol or drugs have a suicide rate that is 2 to 3 times higher than that of men who do not, according to the NIH.
Women who abuse substances are at 6–9 times increased risk of suicide compared to those who do not.
According to the CDC, in 2022, the age-adjusted suicide rate was 1% higher for males compared to 2021 statistics, with 23.1 deaths per 100,000 population in 2022 and 22.8 in 2021.
The age-adjusted suicide rate was 4% higher for females in 2022 in comparison to 2021, with 5.9 deaths per 100,000 people in 2022 and 5.1 in 2021.

Ethnicity

Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native people and non-Hispanic White people had the highest suicide rates in 2022, according to the CDC.

From 2018 to 2020, the rates of suicide by firearm among non-Hispanic White individuals decreased, while they continued to rise among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic individuals.
The CDC reported that for non-Hispanic Black people, the age-adjusted suicide rates decreased from 5.6 in 2000 to 5.1 in 2007, then rose by 53% to reach 7.8 in 2020.
Suicide rates adjusted for age among non-Hispanic White people surged by 51% from 2000 (12.0 per 100,000) to 2018 (18.1) before dropping 7% by 2020 (16.9).

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Overall Suicide Rate in the United States?

In 2022, the suicide rate in the U.S. was 14.21 per 100,00 people. For more insights into America’s mental health, read our posts on Bipolar Disorder Statistics in the United States and Anxiety Statistics in the United States.

How Do Suicide Rates Differ Between Men and Women?

In 2022, men reflected 80% of all deaths by suicide in the United States, with a rate of 23.1 per 100,000, nearly 4 times higher than the rate for women, which stood at 5.9 per 100,000.

What Are the Most Common Methods of Suicide?

Firearms were the predominant suicide method in 2022, accounting for about 54.6% of all suicides, followed by suffocation at 24.8% and poisoning at 12.4%.